It's The Big Kahuna. The cops block traffic; there's no place to park; and the path around Reid Park becomes a cheery, sweating, mostly female trail of pink that eventually carpets the whole west side of the park. The stats last time around, on April 18: nine months of organization, more than 700 volunteers, 10,094 walkers, an immeasurable increase in public awareness and $620,000 raked in for breast cancer research. Every conceivable slice of Tucson's vivid demographic mix is there and wearing a pink T-shirt. There's music, food, wild cheering and sprints for kids. The Race for the Cure is a party for all of Tucson, born from a grim disease.

Runners up:

2. Angel Ball, Angel Charity for Children, Inc., www.angelcharity.org

3. El Tour de Tucson

Vote of note: "people spare-changing in medians," one vote